Storyboard:

Title:

1982 - The Falklands War: between Argentina and the United Kingdom

Rights-Managed,
Editorial

Location and time:

United Kingdom, Falkland Islands, 14-06-1982

Description:

The Falklands War or the Malvinas War was an armed conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands , also known in Spanish as the Islas Malvinas, between March and June of 1982. The Falklands consist of two large and many small islands in the South Atlantic Ocean east of Argentina , whose ownership had long been disputed. Argentina was in the midst of a devastating economic crisis and large-scale civil unrest against the military junta that was governing Argentina in the period leading up to the war. The government, headed by President General Leopoldo Galtieri, decided to play off long-festering nationalistic sentiment by launching what it thought would be a quick and easy war to reclaim the Falkland Islands . The ongoing tension between the two countries over the islands increased on 19 March when 50 Argentines landed on the British dependency of South Georgia and raised their flag, an act that is seen as the first offensive action in the war. On 2 April, Galtieri ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands , triggering the Falklands War. Though initially surprised by the Argentine attack on the South Atlantic islands, Britain launched a naval task force to engage the Argentine navy and air force, and deployed Royal Marines on the ground. After heavy combat, the British eventually prevailed and the islands remained under British control, although as of 2005, Argentina has still not relinquished its claim to the Falkland Islands . The political effects of the war were strong in both countries. The Argentine loss prompted even larger protests against the military government, which prompted its downfall, while a wave of patriotic sentiment swept through the United Kingdom , bolstering the government of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The war has played an important part of the culture of both countries, and has been the subject of several books, movies, and songs, although due to the low number of casualties on both sides it is not seen as a truly major event in either countries individual histories.

Sound Bite and conversation:

Connick, Denzil

(Warrior in the Falkland war) , speaking English: - "More than 20 people were killed that night. I got injured two days later through a grenade-blow up. I lost both of my legs and two of my fellow soldiers died close beside me."

Hasenclever, Delmira Esther

(Mother of an Argentinean soldier) , speaking Portuguese: - "I think, a mother feels if her child dies.
I had a suspicion that Julio didn’t survive. I got a telegraph from him on the 11th, saying don’t worry, I am fine."

Vallejos, Arturo

(Argentinean soldier) , speaking Spanish: - "We were talking a lot each day about what was going to happen. Whether the British would arrive or just give it up. We were on call all the time and were convinced about winning the war – we really wanted to win it…
"

Vallejos, Arturo

(Argentinean soldier) , speaking Spanish: - "The English had no clue about Argentina. They probably expected us to be sitting in trees with bows and arrows in our hands. They thought we were Indians, and were truly surprised."

Connick, Denzil

(Warrior in the Falkland war) , speaking English: - "It was a huge moral disaster. Though we became more determined, that we have to be harder. Many people were killed by that time in the war, so the only solution to finish it off was – to win.
As soon as possible… "

Connick, Denzil

(Warrior in the Falkland war) , speaking English: - "It was such an unreal, special status. Most of them could not believe, that actually we are going to a war.
"

Carrington, Lord Peter

(1982 British Minister of Foreign Affairs) , speaking English: - "It does not matter, who was the Prime Minister, nobody could have made a different decision. Everything would have been lost in the house of commons for Thatcher, if she decided another way."

Connick, Denzil

(Warrior in the Falkland war) , speaking English: - "When we were told that it is about the Falkland-islands, we were surprised, as many of the guys thought, that the islands are somewhere around Scotland. Maybe somewhere around Shetland or the ditch. We were truly surprised, when we got to know, that we are heading towards the south part of the Atlantic – ocean."

Thatcher, Margaret

Hasenclever, Delmira Esther

(Mother of an Argentinean soldier) , speaking Portuguese: - "Julio came home and said the following: mom, they’re going to send draftees. Even my unit. Even though I’m a reserve, I have to go. And then, as all other mothers, I got scared. It’s a normal thing, everybody is afraid of war, it just destroys."

Teggert, Wendy

(Lives in Falkland) , speaking English: - "Many of them thought that Falkland receives them wholeheartedly. They thought they made them free, but then they realized that they were too British and totally different from them. They found it pretty weird."

Carrington, Lord Peter

(1982 British Minister of Foreign Affairs) , speaking English: - "A part of the British authority was occupied, furthermore it was done by an allied state. We could not let it go at that. We could not sit passively. We had to get Falkland back. It was a horrible tragedy - and needless."

Teggert, Wendy

(Lives in Falkland) , speaking English: - "We were notified through radio, that the occupation was expected that night. I though, I dont want to be tired, so I went to sleep.
It might seem weird, but I had a very good sleep the whole night. I woke about 5.30am and saw, that it happened, what we expected. Shots fired."

Teggert, Wendy

(Lives in Falkland) , speaking English: - "We were happy, that it was finished – for all of us.
The argentines said too, they are happy, that finally they can go home, since they don’t belong here."